dyton mupawaenda
Webester Mukwati in GENEVA, Switzerland
PUBLIC Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister July Moyo is leading a Zimbabwean delegation to the 114th Session of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Governing Council Conference in Geneva, Switzerland where a number of issues related to global migration challenges are under discussion.
Minister Moyo took part in a high level discussion held under the theme, “Climate impact on human mobility: a global call for solutions”.
He was accompanied by the Permanent Representative of Zimbabwe to the United Nations and other international agencies based in Geneva, Mr Nesbert Samasuwo and officials from the Ministry.
The IOM governing council was established in 1951 and joined the United Nations in 2016 as the leading inter-Governmental Organisation in the field of migration. It has 175 member states, including Zimbabwe and a further 8 states holding observer status.
The highly attended meeting ran from Monday and ends today. It witnessed the assumption of duty by the newly elected IOM governing bureau chair Ambassador, Dr Katharina Stasch, who is also the German Permanent Representative to the UN.
Responding on behalf of the Africa group, Minister Moyo appealed for an increase in the budget to Africa by 59 percent and the reforms in the IOM support offices particularly, in human resources and the general structure.
Minister Moyo said: “I wish to express appreciation for this opportunity to engage in this high-level segment where we appreciate this very topical subject for discussion which comes at a time when the world is grappling with the negative impact of climate change induced disasters that have resulted in displacement of large numbers of people in recent years globally.
“The global solutions we are discussing today should therefore be aimed at dealing with the climate injustices that currently prevail, recognising that countries in the global north have largely contributed to the disastrous and human-induced climate change while countries in the global south continue to suffer its extreme consequences.
“It is essential that countries with larger carbon prints than us developing countries, should act proportionally, or at least do so in tandem with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities”.
Minister Moyo said solutions to mitigate the impact of climate change are supposed to be both at the global and localised levels, acknowledging that there were no one-size-fits-all solutions.
“We note with regret, that several solutions that have been proffered in the past have not worked because of a lack of commitment and action.
“The issue of climate financing remains key and concerted efforts should be made towards mobilising resources for developing countries to be able to deal with natural disasters.”
IOM has several responsibilities ranging from ensuring the orderly and humane management of migration, promotion of international co-operation on migration issues, assistance in the search for practical solutions to migration problems and to provision of humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees and internally displaced people.
IOM currently has offices situated in 171 countries, including Zimbabwe, which provide services and advice to Governments and migrants.
Minister Moyo said solutions to the climate change crisis should include geospatial planning surveys to inform communities on areas susceptible to natural disasters to help develop prevention and mitigation measures.
“In addition, indigenous knowledge systems and climate proofing should continue to be utilised in order to build resilience in the face of natural disasters. Since 2020, our President, Dr E.D Mnangagwa, launched and still supports, a climate proofing system in agriculture in all the over 35 000 villages led by our traditional leaders intended towards increasing resilience by households.”
Zimbabwe is undertaking many initiatives geared towards the welfare and management of safe and orderly migration in line with the dictates of the global compact on migration.
leeroy
Online Reporter